Makhanda Diaries

15/10/2026

🎗️ A huge thank you to everyone who made our Breast Cancer Awareness episode so powerful, so necessary, and so human.

To our audio diarist Asihle Masola, a 25 year old from Kuils River, Cape Town, who is currently undergoing chemotherapy for breast cancer. Thank you for taking us inside your world, the treatment, the good days, the hard days, and the courage it takes to keep going. Thank you for sharing your journey on TikTok, for letting people see what this really looks like. Your voice matters.

To Nomathansanqa Shode and Mary Bruintjies from Palcare: Hospice and Palliative Care, formerly Grahamstown and Sunshine Coast Hospice. Thank you for the work you do, providing home based hospice and palliative care for individuals facing breast cancer and other life limiting illnesses in Makhanda, Port Alfred, and surrounding rural and informal areas. Thank you for walking the journey with patients and their loved ones. You remind us that no one should face this alone.

To Professor Jo de la Mare, Associate Professor in Biochemistry, Head of the Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology, and Bioinformatics, and Principal Investigator of the Female Cancers Research group, FemCR2U, at Rhodes University. Thank you for sharing your research and your honesty. Thank you for reminding us that science is not just about molecules, it is about people.

To Mlamli Mangcala, diagnostic radiographer and actor, who owns Mlamli Diagnostics in Khayelitsha. Thank you for showing us that breast cancer does not discriminate, and that we all have a role to play, whether we are men or women, patients or supporters.

And to the streets of Makhanda, the women and the men who stopped and shared with us. Thank you for your honesty. Thank you for answering the question, "What do you know about breast cancer?" not with the polite answer, but with the truth.

To every woman in Makhanda, know your body. Check regularly. And if something does not feel right, go to your nearest clinic.

To every man in Makhanda, learn the signs. Support the women in your life. And check yourself too.

No one should face breast cancer alone. And no one should face it silently.

If you or someone you know needs support:

CANSA Help Desk: 0800 22 66 22 (toll free)
CANSA WhatsApp (English/Afrikaans): 072 197 9305
CANSA WhatsApp (isiXhosa, isiZulu, Sesotho, Setswana, Sepedi): 071 867 3530
RMR 89.7fm

05/10/2026

Are you a breast cancer survivor, or are you currently living with breast cancer?
We’d love to hear your story and have you be part of this week’s Makhanda Diaries.

Your journey could mean so much to someone going through a similar experience. 🌸

If you’re willing to share your story, please comment below or send us a DM.

WhatsApp: 066 410 4390
Studio Line: 046 603 8847

05/10/2026

HALALA SANA, HALALA, NOXOLO MANYATHI!

Today, we celebrate not just a qualification, but a woman whose journey, growth, dedication, resilience and contribution have been nothing short of remarkable.

Congratulations on obtaining your Master’s Degree!

There are moments in life when words genuinely feel inadequate, and this is one of those moments.

Since the time I arrived at RMR in 2022, I have had the absolute privilege and pleasure of watching you grow, develop, stretch yourself, take on new responsibilities, navigate change, and continuously prove just how much you bring to this organisation.

You have been an absolute joy to work with.

When I think back to the journey of RMR, I cannot tell its story without remembering the people who stood in the trenches during some of the most important and demanding moments. You were part of that very small team that helped me with the relaunch of the station and that is something I will always remember and deeply appreciate.

You didn't just witness the journey.

You were part of building it.

You have seen RMR through both stages. You have been there through change, transition, growth, challenges, successes and everything in between. You have moved through and contributed to various departments, learning, adapting and adding value wherever you found yourself.

And today, you stand proudly as the person heading the Technical Production team at RMR, while simultaneously achieving something of such incredible personal significance a Master’s Degree.

That is not a small achievement.

It is a testament to your commitment to yourself, your discipline, your determination and your refusal to stop growing.

And perhaps what makes me even more proud is that your academic achievement is only one part of who you are.

You are an absolute asset to RMR, not simply because of what you know or what you are capable of doing, but because of who you are.Your authenticity.Your realness.Your willingness to show up as yourself.Your ability to work, learn, contribute and evolve while remaining true to the person you are.

That quality is rare.

I have watched you develop from those early days of the relaunch to where you are today, and honestly, what a beautiful journey it has been to witness.

There is something incredibly special about seeing someone you have worked alongside grow into their purpose and begin to fully appreciate just how much they are capable of.

And Noxolo, I hope today you take a moment to look back and appreciate your own journey.

Appreciate the late nights.The sacrifices.The moments of doubt.The pressure.The deadlines.The responsibilities.

The days when you probably wondered how you were going to balance everything.

And then look at yourself now.

YOU DID IT.

You have earned this moment.

You have earned the right to celebrate yourself.

You have earned every single congratulatory message coming your way.

And from all of us at RMR, please know that we are incredibly proud of you.

Proud of the professional you have become.Proud of the leader you continue to grow into.Proud of the mom you are,Proud of the colleague, teammate and friend that you are.Proud of the contribution you have made to this station.And most importantly, proud of the person behind all of it.

Noxolo, may this Master’s Degree be another beautiful chapter in a story that is still being written.

May it open doors you haven't even imagined yet.

May your knowledge create opportunities not only for yourself, but for those who will come after you.

May your journey inspire someone else who is watching you and wondering if they too can do it.

Because you can never know how many people are encouraged simply by watching someone like you keep going.

And as you continue to rise, I hope you never forget the people, experiences and moments that shaped you along the way.Never lose that authenticity.Never lose that humility.Never lose that beautiful realness that makes you, you.

I love and appreciate you, Noxolo not only for the incredible asset that you are to RMR, but for the person that you are beyond the job title, beyond the department, beyond the qualifications.

For the realness in you. Today, we celebrate you.Today, we honour you.Today, we acknowledge the work that went into getting here.

Today, we say with enormous pride Well done on this phenomenal achievement.May you continue to grow.May you continue to develop.May you continue to challenge yourself.May you continue to shine.And most importantly…

Kwande kukhanye, uze ukhanyisele nabanye. May your light grow brighter and brighter, and may you use that light to illuminate the path for others.We are immensely proud of you.Here’s to the journey so far and to everything that is still to come!

Unathi Sonwabile Koboka
Station Manager

Makhanda Diaries
Rhodes University
Rhodes JMS

26/09/2026

24/07/2026

Thank you Jayden Brand

23/07/2026

https://iono.fm/e/1698942

It's 2026, and HIV stigma is still a reality for far too many. But stories like this one are how we break the silence.

In our latest episode, we sat down with a courageous young mother of three who is married to an HIV-negative man. She opens up about the moment she found out her status, the painful struggle to accept it, and the journey toward embracing her truth while navigating love, marriage, and motherhood.

This is a conversation about resilience, hope, and what it really means to live and love beyond HIV. Whether you're living with HIV, know someone who is, or just want to challenge the stigma, this one's for you.

In this episode of Makhanda Diaries, we sit down with Khanyiswa from Makhanda. She's living with HIV, and she's here to share her story, from the moment she found out, to the fear of disclosure, to finding the courage to live out loud. Khanyiswa takes us inside her journey. The diagnosis that change...